Coleman drops bid for auditor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Sen. Maida Coleman dropped out of the state auditor's race Tuesday, instead endorsing fellow Democrat Susan Montee.

Coleman, a Sikeston native who declared her candidacy in November, had said in January that she was considering quitting the race because of a chilly reception from some Democratic insiders and donors.

She said in a statement Tuesday that she was setting aside her own political ambitions "to give Democrats the opportunity to unite behind Susan Montee and avoid a Democratic primary."

Montee, the Buchanan County auditor, is the only Democrat so far to file for the Aug. 8 auditor's primary election.

Four Republicans filed Tuesday for the auditor's race. They are Rep. Jack Jackson, of Wildwood; Sen. John Loudon, of Chesterfield; Rep. Mark Wright, of Springfield; and Al Hanson, of Concordia, who won the Republican auditor's primary four years ago.

The incumbent, Democrat Claire McCaskill, is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Talent.

-- AP